Cellulose-ether composition



Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- STEWART J. CARROLL, OF.ROOHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CELLULOSEvETHER COMPOSITION.

llo Drawing.

' I To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, SrnwAnr J. CARROLL, a citizen of the United States residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cellulose-Ether Compositions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. This invention relates to new compositions of matter in which cellulose ethers are mixed with other substances so that they can be advantageously used in the plastic and analogous arts, such, for example, as sheet or film or varnish manufacture.

One object of my invention is to provide compositions of increased utility in the plastic and analogous arts. Another object of my invention is to provide compositions which maybe made into strong, flexible, transparent films, moulded articles, etc. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

I have discovered that a matter having these desired characteristics can be obtained by mixing or compounding cellulose ether, say of thetype indicated in UnS. Potent 1,188,376, Lilienfeld, June 20, 1916, with butyl tartrate. In the preferred forms of my -1nvention I may add one or more of the following alkyl compounds:

-monohydroxy aliphatic alcohols of less than six carbon atoms, the acetates of such alcohols, acetone. Whilebutyl tartrate, by itself, is a useful solvent for film making I prefer to use with it, one or more volatile vehicles to carry the ingredients and control evaporation, such as ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, acene. By way of illustration, I may dissolve cellulose ether, like water-insoluble ethyl cellulose, in butyl tartrate, say one part by weight of the ether to from 4 to 6 parts of the solvent. I prefer, however, to use from 90m 10 parts of butyl tartrate mixed with from 10 to 90 of said alkyl compounds, such as methyl acetate. For instance, an excellent viscous film-making dope is preof America,

sufficiently purified for th composition of cellulose ether dissolved in posited or flowed film Application filed March 3, 1922. Serial no. 540,861.

said eth l cellulose in from 4 parts 0 a mixed solvent containing butyl tartrate and methyl acetate inequarl propor tions.

Other substances which impart useful qualities to the 'film may be added, if desired, such as trip'henyl or tricresyl phosphate, camp-her, monochlomaphthalene, etc.

he ingredients are of the commercial type, c purpose in view. For film' they are prepared to d'opes,

yield films of the proper relative freedom from color. Because of its relatively high boiling point, some of the butyl tartrate remains in the .film and properties to it.

Havin what I c aimas new Letters Patent is:

imparts useful and desire to secure by 1. A composition of matter comprisingcellulose ether, and but 1 tartrate.

2. A composition of celluloseiether dissolved in butyl .tartrate and a volatile vehicle carrying said ether and said butyl tartrate.

3. A composition of matter cellulose ether, butyl tartrate acetate.

4. A composition-of matter comprising a mixture containing 'from 90 to 10 parts by weight of butyl tartrate and 10 to 90 parts of a volatile vehicle carrying said ingredients.

comprising and methyl 5. A viscous flowable composition com-- prising one" lpant by weight of waterinsoluble' ethy cellulose, and from 4 to 6 parts of a solvent containing. butyl tartrate. 6. As an article of manufacture, a decomprising cellulose ether and butyl tartrate.

7. As an article of manufacture, a. deposited or flowed flexible film oomprisin water-insoluble ethyl cellulose and buty tartrate. Signed ,at' Rochester, New York, this 27 day of F ebruar ,1922.

thus described my invention,

matte-r, comprising s EWART J. CAR OL 

